The Pros and Cons of Fluoride Treatment: Miracle Treatment or Poison?

Dentists give their patients a highly concentrated fluoride treatment for cavity-prevention and to improve health. Some people think it does more harm than good. Like other treatments, there are side effects. However, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Fluoride positively affects teeth in several ways:

• Helps prevent cavities
• Reduces the speed of tooth decay
• Reduces the need for expensive dental treatments
• Prolongs the health of baby teeth
• Saves the patient money long-term
• Helps prevent gum disease
• Helps prevent mouth pain
• Helps keep teeth

Fluoride treatment can also reduce the risk of other infections by preventing cavities from decaying teeth and spreading infection through the bloodstream.

Fluoride also benefits your teeth and overall health with these processes:

1. It helps your body use phosphate and calcium, which is stored in your teeth.
2. It helps strengthen enamel, the hard, outer part of your tooth.
3. It hurts cavity-causing bacteria

The American Dental Association recommends exposing yourself to small amounts of fluoride every day to get the best result. This means using a fluoride toothpaste while brushing your teeth twice a day.

For those who are at a higher risk of cavities, you can add an at-home fluoride rinse to your routine and regular fluoride treatments at the dentist every six months. Dentists often consider children at high-risk of getting cavities but using one at home is not recommended since children are in danger of swallowing it.

Instead, many dentists recommend that children have a supervised fluoride treatment at the dentist’s office every three-to-six months.

If you’re looking for a dentist in Milford for fluoride treatments for you or your child, book an appointment at Milford Family Dental today!